- Ram Lalla epitomizes well-being of people; he is present right from the inception to conclusion of the Budget: CM Yogi
- The new UP is all about celebration, industry and hope: Yogi Adityanath tells media persons at a press conference
- The Budget is the document for comprehensive & balanced development of UP, CM asserts
By Our Correspondent
Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday dedicated the biggest annual Budget of Uttar Pradesh to date to Lord Shri Ram.
Addressing a press conference following the presentation of Budget 2024-25 in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, he said that Lord Shri Ram epitomizes the well-being of people, asserting his presence right from the inception till the conclusion of the Budget.
CM Yogi articulated that the new Budget offers a perfect roadmap for comprehensive and balanced development of the state, aligning with the aspirations of its populace. The Chief Minister added that the new Uttar Pradesh is all about celebration, industry and hope.
Budget sees 6.7 percent increase compared to 2023-24
Congratulating State Finance Minister Suresh Khanna for presenting the Budget for the fifth time, the CM remarked that this Budget of Rs 7,36,437.71 crore is the biggest to date, 6.7 percent up compared to the budget of 2023-24, and is dedicated to faith, Antyodaya and economy.
The increase in the size of the state budget is based on the commitment of the double engine government to expand the economy of the state as well as the Prime Minister’s vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Prayas, he stated.
No additional tax for the common man
Highlighting key aspects of the Budget, the Chief Minister underscored a groundbreaking provision for capital expenditure, amounting to Rs 2,03,782.38 crore, describing it as a testament to the government’s commitment to bolstering infrastructure. Emphasizing the symbiotic relationship between infrastructure investment, job creation, and economic fortification, he envisioned a significant leap in the state’s GDP, projecting an increase from Rs 12 lakh crore in 2016-17 to an impressive Rs 25 lakh crore by 2024-25.
In a notable achievement, the Chief Minister highlighted the government’s success in doubling the per capita income, propelling Uttar Pradesh to the position of the second-largest economy in the country. This transformative progress, he explained, was a result of the government’s resolute stance against tax evasion and rigorous measures undertaken across various departments to staunchly eliminate revenue leakage. Consequently, Uttar Pradesh has achieved the status of a revenue surplus state, with manifold increases in revenue over the past seven years, he pointed out.
According to him, what sets this accomplishment apart is the government’s commitment to fiscal responsibility, refraining from imposing additional taxes or burdening the common man and at the same time implementing welfare schemes at an extensive scale.
There is also fiscal discipline in the Budget
The Chief Minister also expressed happiness over Uttar Pradesh’s fiscal deficit of 3.46 percent being within the limit of 3.5 per cent as set by the Reserve Bank. “This underscores the government’s vision is for security, development and good governance along with fiscal discipline”, he stated.
He added that the government has also been successful in controlling the unemployment rate in the last seven years. “In 2016-17, the unemployment rate in the state was 19.2 percent, which has reduced to 2.4 percent today. New employment opportunities and a new environment for industrial investment have been created. MSME units have been revived. Also, schemes like ODOP and Vishwakarma Shram Samman have given UP a new identity in the country”, he remarked.
CM discusses proposals for poor, women, farmers & youth
The Chief Minister also discussed the important proposals made in the budget for the welfare and empowerment of poor, women, youth and farmer in the state. He said that new projects worth Rs 24,863.57 crore have been included in the Budget. There is also a proposal to provide interest free loan of Rs 5 lakh for the youth under the Chief Minister Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan Yojana. Apart from this, provision has been made for formation of Employment Promotion Fund, in which arrangements for training, internship and apprenticeship have been made.
The proposals also include establishment of Government Institute of Fashion Technology in Varanasi and 2 mega government ITIs, upgradation of 69 ITIsit is, setting up of Sports Science and Injury Centre and Senior Citizen Welfare Fund, and development of 22,000 mini Anganwadi centers as main Anganwadi centers.
A new city will be built inside the state after 46 years
CM Yogi highlighted the proactive steps taken to advance the establishment of the Budelkhand Industrial Development Authority in the state. Notably, after a span of 46 years, a new city is slated to emerge within the state, strategically positioned between Kanpur and Jhansi.
The budget also allocates resources for the enhancement of spiritual tourism in Uttar Pradesh, focusing on developing infrastructure along the Nath corridor theme in key cities such as Ayodhya, Kashi, Mathura, Naimish, Vindhyachal, Devipatan, and Bareilly. Additionally, provisions have been made for the creation of a Kumbh Museum in Prayagraj. The financial plan extends support for cultural enrichment through the establishment of a music college in Hariharpur, Azamgarh, and the inception of the International Ramayana and Vedic Research Center in Ayodhya.
Addressing the agricultural sector, CM Yogi announced the Chief Minister Farm Security Scheme for farmers, emphasizing the importance of agriculture as a primary sector. The proposal includes the introduction of a State Agricultural Scheme across the state. Furthermore, financial provisions have been made to provide electricity to private tube well farmers, contributing to the overall improvement of the agricultural landscape.
In a forward-looking initiative to safeguard agriculture from the impacts of global warming, the budget outlines plans to install automatic rain gauges in every gram panchayat, CM stated.
Green tagging started for 17 departments of the state
The Chief Minister described the Budget as very important also because it has appeared in the Amrit Kaal of the naming of the state. CM mentioned the important works done by the government in the context of Green Budget. “Green tagging has started for 17 departments of the state. UP will be the first state to do green tagging. Our budget process has become completely digital. Our budget is also a think budget. This is a budget based on the welfare of mothers, sisters and daughters. This budget is going to fulfill the overall concepts of the state.”, he stated further.
Every budget of Yogi govt has its own unique theme
The Chief Minister said that this is the eighth budget of his government and has its own unique theme like the previous ones. While the budget of 2017-18 was dedicated to Annadata farmers, the budget of 2018-19 was to infrastructure and industrial development, the budget of 2019-20 was to women empowerment, the 2020-21 budget to youth, the budget of 2021-22 to empowerment through self-reliance, the budget of 2022-23 to self-reliance through Antyodaya, the budget of 2023-24 to accelerated and all-inclusive development and the budget for 2024-25 to Lord Shri Ram with larger public welfare in mind.
